But during the national anthem Trump appeared to be cheerfully bouncing around in stark contrast to the still and sombre-looking Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Joseph Dunford, and Defence Secretary, James Mattis.

Watch: President Trump sings along to "Star-Spangled Banner" at Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington Nat'l Cemetery https://t.co/bUoHsX8HJf

Stepping to the microphone to deliver the address, Trump seemed to relish the warm welcome from the audience gathered in the sun-splashed amphitheater, reports the Associated Press.

Trump has been feeling particularly aggrieved in recent weeks by federal and congressional investigations into contacts between his associates and Russian government officials, including news reports that Jared Kushner, his son-in-law and top White House adviser, proposed establishing secret back-channel communications with Russia during the presidential transition.

Trump is speaking at Arlington. He doesn't speak for me. I am a gold star family and his words mean nothing to me. He is clueless!!!

To all Gold Star families (the families of those killed in action), Trump said of their lost service members: “They each had their own names, their own stories, their own beautiful dreams. But they were all angels sent to us by God and they all share one title in common and that is the title of hero, real heroes.

Trump used his platform to denigrate a gold star family. Today at Arlington his words do not ring true. The Khan family deserves an apology.